2.6 BILLION miles of ‘Are We There Yet?’  

Welcome Break and Twinkl Team Up to Beat Travel Boredom for UK Families 

• UK kids set to travel 2.6 billion miles in the car this summer^[1] 
• Half of Scottish parents are averse to playing nursery rhymes for kids in the car 
• With it taking 28 minutes for the first kid in Scotland to ask, ‘are we there yet?’ 

Travelling with kids in tow can be stressful for parents. With the summer holidays almost here, Welcome Break has revealed the average child is set to travel 206 miles around the UK this summer.

Luckily for these children, Welcome Break has launched a partnership with Twinkl Educational Publishing to give out free activity packs to help with these long car journeys. 

Welcome Break, one of the UK’s leading Motorway Service Area Operators, has recently conducted a survey revealing the top essential items for parents travelling with kids in the car.

According to Scottish respondents, snacks are a must-have, with eight out of ten parents (82 percent) agreeing. The optimal number of snacks for Scottish kids on a car journey is 3 nibbles. Other items rated highly include an iPad or tablet (70 percent) and activity or colouring books (31 percent). 

 When it comes to music preferences during road trips, Scottish parents stand their ground against nursery rhymes, with half of them (48 percent) saying ‘no’ to playing them in the car. Only a mere 11 percent allow nursery rhymes to keep their back passengers happy!

Additionally, almost a third of Scottish families (29 percent) admit to experiencing disagreements in the car over the playlist. However, according to Welcome Break, musical entertainment doesn’t always prevent moments of boredom for children. It takes just 28 minutes for the first kid to ask, ‘are we there yet?’ and only 45 minutes before a child in Scotland asks, ‘can we stop to use the bathroom?’ 

Fortunately, traditional car games are still enjoyed by parents and children. More than half of Scottish families (55 percent) play the classic ‘I spy’ on long car journeys, while one in ten (11 percent) engage in the ‘number plate game.’ Additionally, some shrewd parents (21 percent) use the ‘quiet game’ to ensure some moments of peace and silence. 

 As families plan their summer trips around the UK, Welcome Break’s survey reveals that half of Scottish parents (56 percent) consider a bag of toys and books as the top packing essential for UK holidays. For those who stop at Welcome Break pit stops, Twinkl has created activity mats that are sure to keep children entertained and engaged.

Gary Steele, Operations Director at Welcome Break, commented on the findings: “Welcome Break has everything you need if you’re travelling with children this summer.

“Whether it’s a toilet break, a snack stop or to pick up one of our Twinkl activity packs, we’re there to keep kids entertained on any journey! With 66 percent of Scots holidaying in Scotland this year, we’re there to act as that perfect pitstop whatever your plans are this summer!”  

Twinkl’s activity mats, available at all Welcome Break sites, feature a variety of fun puzzles, activities, and games, carefully designed to be both entertaining and educational.

The tasks aim to engage children with their surroundings while on their travels. Twinkl also directs travelling families to a range of their free Twinkl Go! interactive games and Twinkl Originals AudioBook Playlists, ensuring they are well-equipped for their journeys over the summer. 

Leon Smith, Chief Customer Officer at Twinkl, commented: “Twinkl is passionate about providing support to all types of educators, including parents. Our collaboration with Welcome Break is a testament to that mission.

“As a parent myself, I understand the challenges of keeping children engaged during long car journeys. That’s why we’ve thoughtfully designed activity mats packed with fun puzzles, activities, and games, all with an educational twist.

“We hope these will make travel more enjoyable for families by sparking curiosity and learning on the road.” 

For more information on Welcome Break on your journey this summer visit,  https://www.welcomebreak.co.uk/. 

Twinkl’s activity mats will be freely available at all Welcome Break sites.

For more free activities, scan the QR code on the sheets to discover free audio books and games that can be played on iPads, tablets, iPhones and Androids. All the activities have been created by Twinkl’s team of experienced teachers and parents, to ensure they are inviting for children with an educational twist.